April 25 2014 will see Everton and Liverpool take to the pitch with much more than three points up for grabs.

Skelmersdale’s JMO Sports Park will play host to this special derby, with all proceeds from the game going directly to the Hillsborough families’ campaign.

Karl Houghton, the brains behind the idea, happened upon it after one particularly unpleasant occasion for the devout Blue.

“I have always enjoyed the banter between the Blues and the Reds,” explained Karl. “I have to admit, I did give the Liverpool fans a lot of stick so when we lost the last derby game so heavily I expected to take a bit of flack.

“I got home after the full time whistle blew, looked at my phone and my Facebook and it was full of gloating Reds giving me a lot of stick,” he remembers. “Fair enough, I had been giving it to them before the game so I laughed it off, ate a big fat pizza to comfort the devastation and went to bed.”

Not one to shy away from criticism, the proud Evertonian came upon a novel idea to silence his friends from the other side of the park.

"I thought time to put your money where your mouth is,” said Karl.” Let’s have a one off match, 11 Blues versus 11 Reds plus subs with the proceeds raised benefitting the Hillsborough families and their fight for justice.

“It snowballed from then on. Within a few hours we had two full squads worth of local Everton and Liverpool fans, three officials, two managers, and a venue for the game.

“We set up a Facebook page which currently has over 800 members wanting to make donations and attend the event.” 

The tragic events of April 15, 1989 resulted in the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans. A 25-year campaign for justice is still ongoing as friends and loved ones have fought long and hard to uncover the truth of what happened to the victims of the disaster on that fateful day.

Although fierce rivals on the pitch, Everton and Liverpool have stood shoulder-to-shoulder as the quest for justice continues.

A philosophy Karl is hoping the fixture will fully embrace.

“We have all united as one to raise donations for a great cause, just like our great city has been doing for the past 25 years since that dreadful day,” points out Karl. “No one should ever go to a football match and not return from it.

“The details of that day still need to be acknowledged and the families of the Hillsborough disaster need our continued help and support.”

Everton Football Club is totally behind this wonderful gesture and fully endorses the charity match. To make a donation to the JustGiving page, set up solely for this fundraising fixture, click here.